financetom
Cryptocurrency
financetom
/
Cryptocurrency
/
Hacker Transfers $6.5 Million in Stolen WazirX Funds to US
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Hacker Transfers $6.5 Million in Stolen WazirX Funds to US
Sep 3, 2024 12:11 PM

The hacker responsible for the $230 million cyberattack on Indian crypto exchange WazirX has begun transferring stolen funds using Tornado Cash, a digital currency mixer sanctioned by the U.S. government.

The move, which hides the trail of stolen assets, is the latest attempt by the perpetrator to launder the ill-gotten gains.

$6.5 Million in Stolen ETH Transferred

According to cybersecurity firm PeckShield, approximately 2,600 ether (ETH), valued at around $6.5 million, was transferred to the sanctioned crypto mixer early Tuesday.

Additionally, data from Arkham reveals that nearly $4 million worth of ETH was transferred across 16 transactions on the Ethereum network to a Tornado Cash router.

The hackers wallet currently holds over $155 million worth of various tokens, with the majority in ETH, valued at around $150 million. Before September 3, they had not moved any of the money.

Tornado Cash is a sanctioned decentralized platform that allows users to exchange tokens while concealing the originating and receiving wallet addresses, making it difficult to trace the flow of funds.

Although the service itself is not illegal, it has frequently been used by cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to stolen or illicit cryptocurrency.

Customers Warned of Up to 43% Losses

This latest movement of funds comes just weeks after the July 18 cyber attack that targeted WazirX. The incident resulted in the loss of more than $230 million in user assets, a sum that represents over 45% of the exchange’s total reserves.

Following the breach, the Indian exchange has filed for restructuring to manage its liabilities, with a request set to be heard by the Singapore High Court on Tuesday. The court will also hear its prayer for six months of protection on the same day, a move intended to provide the exchange with breathing room as it navigates the restructuring process.

The petition was made by Zettai, a Singapore-incorporated entity whose subsidiary, Zanmai India, operates WazirX. Meanwhile, the company’s legal advisers have warned that customers are unlikely to recover the full amount of their stolen investments.

During a press conference on September 2, Nischal Shetty, co-founder of WazirX, and George Gwee, a director at restructuring firm Kroll, said that users might see a return of only 55% to 57% of their money at best. In the worst-case scenario, customers could lose up to 43% of their holdings on the platform.

However, they are reportedly in talks with a white knight investor to help close the deficit and increase recovered funds.

Representatives also plan to distribute remaining assets to users on a pro-rata basis while exploring new product development and profit-sharing schemes as additional income sources.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
OKX Sees $204M Outflows in 24 Hours After Security Lapses
OKX Sees $204M Outflows in 24 Hours After Security Lapses
Jun 11, 2024
OKX has experienced significant outflows, with $204 million withdrawn in the past 24 hours and $630 million in the past week, surpassing the outflows of other prominent cryptocurrency exchanges. The surge in withdrawals comes from multiple security controversies that may have undermined user confidence. OKXs Design Flaw On June 9, two OKX users lost a significant amount of funds in...
Crypto Hater Elizabeth Warren Begs Fed Chairman To Cut Interest Rates
Crypto Hater Elizabeth Warren Begs Fed Chairman To Cut Interest Rates
Jun 11, 2024
United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is calling on the Federal Reserve to lower its interest rate target on Thursday – a move most analysts believe would be a boon for crypto markets. The senator’s request puts her in an ironic alignment with crypto investors, whose industry she has repeatedly tried to stifle with burdensome legislation and reporting requirements. Cut...
Bitcoin Open Interest Reaches All
Bitcoin Open Interest Reaches All
Jun 11, 2024
Bitcoin futures interest tapped an all-time high in US dollar terms on Monday, reaching over 500,000 BTC worth $36.3 billion. Analysts say the overwhelming surge in open interest relates to a clever arbitrage play levied by institutional traders between Bitcoin’s futures and spot markets. The Cash And Carry Trade In a Tuesday newsletter, lead Glassnode analyst James Check theorized that...
Meme Coins Face Dual Threat: Market Manipulation and Liquidity Issues
Meme Coins Face Dual Threat: Market Manipulation and Liquidity Issues
Jun 11, 2024
Since Dogecoins debut in 2013, the meme coin market has seen significant growth, reaching a total market cap of $60 billion by June 2024. In March alone, the asset class attracted a whopping $13 billion in spot trading volumes on exchanges, surpassing major blue-chip cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Solana. However, this sector is grappling with risks. Red Flags Identified...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved